Brake for sequence-switches.



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BRAKEFOR SEQUENCE SWITCHES. APPLICATION FILED sEPT f'I. ms.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN NEWBERBY REYNOLDS, OF GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BRAKE FOR SEQUENCE-SWITCHES.

Application filed September 11, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN Nnwnnnnr Rm- NOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenwich, in the county of Falrfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brakes for Sequence-Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to a switch struc ture commonly called a sequence switch, in which there is a rotatable contact carrying member, and particularly to means for preventing overrun of the rotatable member.

Devices of this character formerly employed consist of a metallic disk attached to the rotatable member and having a fluted edge with which a roller cooperates and 1s held in forcible engagement therewith by aspring arm. A braking action is produced as the roller engages the fluted edge of the disk. It is obvious that the retarding force produced by this arrangement is very unsteady.

The object of this invention is the provision of means for applying a steady rctarding force to therotating member. In the present embodiment of the invention, this is effected by means of a metallic disk attached to the rotatable member revolving between two friction pads.

The advantages of this device over those formerly employed are that the torsional vibrations in the rotatable member, due to the varying power required for driving the member as the roller rides over the fluted edge. are eliminated; that by regulating the pressure of the pads on the metallic dlsk, the switch can be made to stop instantly when the driving source of the member is disengaged therefrom, and that less power is required to drive the shaft.

For an illustration of the brake and of its operation, reference is made to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sequence switch employing this brake. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22. The sequence switch shown, except as to the retarding means, is similar in structure to that described in Patent 1,127,808, patented February 9, 1915. This switch is used merely to show a switch employing this brake, and itis to be understood that the invention is not limited to the application of'the brake to this particular Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

Serial No. 119,488.

switch, as it is obvious that in applying this brake to other switch structures, many changes may be made in the structure without departing from the spirit of the invent1on.

Referring now to the drawing, in which the same reference characters are applied to the same parts in the various figures, 1 represents a frame having the extended portions 2 and Rotatably mounted between the portions 2 and 3 is the shaft 4. Nonrotatably mounted on the shaft f is a plurality of disks 31, having contacts 32 and 32 thereon which are adapted to control various circuits (not shown). Fixed to one end of the shaftis a disk 30 having a plurality of radially extending arms 7 of flexible material. The disk 9 is secured to the outer ends of the arms 7 and is adapted to be attracted against the resiliency of these supporting arms 7 when magnet 12 is energized. Disk 9, when attracted, is brought into forcible engagement with the friction disk 10. which is attached to the rotating power shaft 11, thereby rotating shaft 4.

Also fixed to shaft 4 is a disk 32 of fiber or other insulating material. On each side of the insulating disk there is secured a metallic disk or plate. One of these disks, 13, is of larger diameter than that of the insulating disk, and rotates between two friction pads 14 and 1 1, which may be of any suitable frictional material such as cork. Friction pads 14 and 14 are held in forcible engagement with the disk 13 by spring arms 15 and 15 respectively, which are secured to an extension 24: of the frame 1 by set screws 23. A slot 17 is cut out of each of the spring arms, and the clamping screw 16 fits therein and clamps the two springs together. The spring arms diverge from their fastened end so that as the clamping screw 16 is moved in the slot away from their fastened end, the pressure exerted on disk 13 by the friction contacts 1 1 and 14 is increased. Thus, the retarding force can be varied any desired amount simply by changing the position of this clamping screw.

hen the shaft frotates, disk 13 revolves between the pads 1-iand 14:, producing frie tion which tends to stop the shaft from rotating, and when disks 9 and 10 are disengaged, this friction stops further rotation of the shaft.

Secured to Lheotber side of the insulating disk is the metallic disk 20. .This' metallic disk has a series of, notches 18 around its edge. Brushes 19 and 21 are arranged to cooperate respectively with the notches 1S and the imperforate portionQO of the disk 18. This construction may. be used to control the local circuit'for the magnet 12 to determine the stopping positions of the switch. The function of this arrangement is to assure a complete passage of the switch'from} one stopping position to theneizti What is claimed is;

1. In a switch, the combination with a frame, a rotatable shaft, and means for r10 tating said shaft, of a eontrolli'ngidevice for said shaft comprising a disk secured'to' said shaft, two fiat springs, means-engaging oneend of said spring for clamping 'sa'id' springs together, means for fastening said clamped portion ofsaid s rings to said frame, frietionpads secure to the otherend ,ofeae h 13 spring and in engagement with sa-ijd idl-Slfll and a screw extending through slots one in each spring, arranged toary 'the pressure exerted disk.

Copies of this patent may ebtal jne qf by said friction pads against said ,i. said disk; 2. In a switch, the combination' Wi'th-fa frame, a rotatable shaft, and-means for m; tating said shaft, ofa controlling device for said shaft comprising a disl'g secured to said,

shaft, two flat springs, each spring-having a slotcxtending lengthwise thereof,v means engaging one end of each spring for'clam'ping'salid springs together, means for fasteningsa-id clamped portion of saidsprings to "said frame, friction pads secured to the other end of each spring and 111 engagement with said disk, and means extending through -the slots of both springs and slidable'therein to vary the pressure exerted tion pads agai nst-said-disk.

3. In a switch, the combination with a frame, a rotatable shaft, and neansfor rotatin'g said shaft, of a controlling device forsaidshaft comprising a disk secured tosaid shaft, two fiat springs, eachspring having by said1friea slotextending lengthwise thereof, means engagingone end of each spring for clamping said springs together, means for fastening said clamped'portion 'of said springs to said frame, friction pads secured to the other end of-ea'ch spring'andin engagement with oppositesides of'said disk, and-a clamping screw extending through the slots of both springs and slidable therein to ary the pressure-exerted by said friction pads against Imwinness whereof, 'I hereunto subscribe riy'namethis' 8th day'of September, A. D.- 15-1. g 'NEVVBERBY REYNOLDS,

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